Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
6 Months Old, 8 Hours of Sleep, and a Boat Load of Breast Milk!
Today is the munchkin's 6 month birthday! I can't believe it! What a difference just a few weeks make when they are this age. She is becoming so much more interactive and so curious about the world around her. I am going to make a separate post all about her and what she has going on in her world at 6 months. I will work on that later on today.
Last night I gave the munchkin a bottle at 8:30 pm and then put her to bed. I couldn't believe it when I woke up and looked at the clock at 4:00 am and she was still sleeping! At first I thought Joe must have given her a bottle before he went to bed while I was asleep. I looked in the bathroom and saw all of the bottles still sitting there clean and ready to go, along with a full formula dispenser, so I knew he hadn't. I usually give her a 6 oz bottle before bed and then 4 oz bottles throughout the night, but I figured since she was still sleeping, I would give her another 6 oz bottle when she woke up. It's kinda crazy how somehow a mother's body just seems to know what is going to happen before it does, because since I had woken up right before her, around 4:20 she woke up and I already had everything ready to go.
She was on her belly and crying really hard by the time I got in there. I didn't know if rolling over had woken her up, or if rolling over had kept her asleep for so long and she was just finally waking up because she was starving. She scarfed down the entire 6 ounces and would have probably eaten more had it been in there. I laid her down in her crib and went back to bed. I woke up at 8:00 am and she was still sound asleep. So I got dressed and ready to go and about 8:20 I went in to to wake her up. She was sleeping soundly on her belly! So I guess she has discovered she likes sleeping on her belly and hopefully (I'm not counting on it) she will start sleeping longer stretches now. The last couple of weeks, she has been rolling over onto her belly and she would wake up screaming because she didn't want to be there and couldn't get back. We had to go in there and roll her back onto her back so she could go back to sleep. Joe and I were so excited this morning. I can't believe she slept that long... that is a record. The only time she came even close to that was 7 hours when she was about a month old, but she has never gotten even close since then. I gotta tell ya, I felt pretty good this morning!
Then to add to my good mood, I had an email this morning from the milk bank in Indiana. I wanted to share some of the emails back and forth between us from the last 2 days.
Hi Dane!
I shipped all of my milk out to you guys on Saturday, Feb 27th. It took me a while to ship it because I had to find a place that sold dry ice and figure out how to go buy it and ship it all in the same day. I just wanted to make sure you guys got it and make sure it got there okay. Is there any way I could find out what the final amount was and a receipt for that?
Thank you!
Laura
Laura,
Thank you so much! We did receive your shipment - all 875 ounces of it! It was in great condition... so great job!
I have attached a letterhead stating how much you donated. Let me know if this works.
Thanks!
Dane
Wow! I had no idea it was that much.... that is fantastic. I was hoping around 600.... but 875!!! Holy Cow! I am so glad that it arrived in great condition, that is so wonderful to hear. It makes me feel better about having to stop breastfeeding to know that it will help feed another baby.
The letter you sent should work just fine. Thank you for sending it.
Thanks for all your help!
Laura
Laura,
Yeah - you had a LOT of milk. Some of your milk has actually already been pasteurized and is being distributed to NICUs throughout the Midwest. You are most definitely helping many other babies with your gift.
If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks
Dane
I broke down and cried after I found out that it all got there safely and there were 875 ounces! A sense of relief washed over me knowing it arrived there in good condition. I still can't say exactly why, but for some reason that milk just meant so very much to me. I really was very sad to have to stop breastfeeding the munchkin. But it does help to know that because of our efforts, another little life will be nourished. Donating my milk was a great way to help me to move forward and to somehow feel good about it all. I can't even imagine how much harder it would have been on me if I had no other option then to just throw it all away.
Last night I gave the munchkin a bottle at 8:30 pm and then put her to bed. I couldn't believe it when I woke up and looked at the clock at 4:00 am and she was still sleeping! At first I thought Joe must have given her a bottle before he went to bed while I was asleep. I looked in the bathroom and saw all of the bottles still sitting there clean and ready to go, along with a full formula dispenser, so I knew he hadn't. I usually give her a 6 oz bottle before bed and then 4 oz bottles throughout the night, but I figured since she was still sleeping, I would give her another 6 oz bottle when she woke up. It's kinda crazy how somehow a mother's body just seems to know what is going to happen before it does, because since I had woken up right before her, around 4:20 she woke up and I already had everything ready to go.
She was on her belly and crying really hard by the time I got in there. I didn't know if rolling over had woken her up, or if rolling over had kept her asleep for so long and she was just finally waking up because she was starving. She scarfed down the entire 6 ounces and would have probably eaten more had it been in there. I laid her down in her crib and went back to bed. I woke up at 8:00 am and she was still sound asleep. So I got dressed and ready to go and about 8:20 I went in to to wake her up. She was sleeping soundly on her belly! So I guess she has discovered she likes sleeping on her belly and hopefully (I'm not counting on it) she will start sleeping longer stretches now. The last couple of weeks, she has been rolling over onto her belly and she would wake up screaming because she didn't want to be there and couldn't get back. We had to go in there and roll her back onto her back so she could go back to sleep. Joe and I were so excited this morning. I can't believe she slept that long... that is a record. The only time she came even close to that was 7 hours when she was about a month old, but she has never gotten even close since then. I gotta tell ya, I felt pretty good this morning!
Then to add to my good mood, I had an email this morning from the milk bank in Indiana. I wanted to share some of the emails back and forth between us from the last 2 days.
Hi Dane!
I shipped all of my milk out to you guys on Saturday, Feb 27th. It took me a while to ship it because I had to find a place that sold dry ice and figure out how to go buy it and ship it all in the same day. I just wanted to make sure you guys got it and make sure it got there okay. Is there any way I could find out what the final amount was and a receipt for that?
Thank you!
Laura
Laura,
Thank you so much! We did receive your shipment - all 875 ounces of it! It was in great condition... so great job!
I have attached a letterhead stating how much you donated. Let me know if this works.
Thanks!
Dane
Wow! I had no idea it was that much.... that is fantastic. I was hoping around 600.... but 875!!! Holy Cow! I am so glad that it arrived in great condition, that is so wonderful to hear. It makes me feel better about having to stop breastfeeding to know that it will help feed another baby.
The letter you sent should work just fine. Thank you for sending it.
Thanks for all your help!
Laura
Laura,
Yeah - you had a LOT of milk. Some of your milk has actually already been pasteurized and is being distributed to NICUs throughout the Midwest. You are most definitely helping many other babies with your gift.
If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks
Dane
I broke down and cried after I found out that it all got there safely and there were 875 ounces! A sense of relief washed over me knowing it arrived there in good condition. I still can't say exactly why, but for some reason that milk just meant so very much to me. I really was very sad to have to stop breastfeeding the munchkin. But it does help to know that because of our efforts, another little life will be nourished. Donating my milk was a great way to help me to move forward and to somehow feel good about it all. I can't even imagine how much harder it would have been on me if I had no other option then to just throw it all away.
And just an FYI, I can't actually get a tax deduction for my donated breastmilk, but you can get some credit for all of your supplies (e.g. milk bags and pump) along with your time. I don't think I will actually bother with it, but I wanted the letter just incase.
"Today Was a Good Day" ~ Ice Cube
Monday, March 8, 2010
Photo Shoot Sneak Peek
The photo shoot went great on Sunday. My sister Amy and her hubby came out with the munchkin's cousin and we took pics of all of us. I haven't gotten them all back yet, but I was given a few sneak peeks... here's one of my favorites so far!
I can't wait to post the rest... hopefully in the next couple of days I will have them.
Our weekend was alot of fun. Its so much better taking the munchkin places now that she is in a better mood and not crying and fussing all of the time. Life is so much easier on all of us now that she is feeling better. We went to Amy's house on Saturday and BBQ'd with them and a few of their neighbors. Sunday we had the photo shoot, then over to my parents house to have dinner and hang out with my sisters.
Sundays are always bitter sweet. Not only does it mean back to work the next day, but Joe goes to school Mon, Tues & Wed. I will hardly see him during that time and Thursday is usually pretty exciting when we get to hang out again. I am always looking for things to do away from the house with Ayla so we don't have to sit at home alone. Tonight I think I will go visit my mom and my sister Erin and her kids.
I don't think I have mentioned yet that my youngest sister, Erin, is going through a divorce. It's been a very big, ugly, stressful mess and now her and her two kids have moved in with my parents while she finishes school. Its been really hard on them to adjust to this. My mom is now watching her kids alot while Erin works and goes to school, so both the munchkin and Amy's baby misses out on alot of grandma time. Obviously that is a small price to pay for Erin to be able to go back to school and we all know this is for the best, but sometimes I wish my mom wasn't so busy all the time taking care of them. There are alot of times I could really use her help, but she is already booked with the other kiddos. Plus I feel bad for her, as she is exhausted most of the time trying to keep up with them. But I feel especially bad for Erin having to go through all of this and move back in with our parents with her two kids. I am so glad that she is going back to school (she is getting her masters so she can become a teacher), and once she is finished she will be able to move out on her own and support her little family herself. I really admire single parents, especially those that have their kids full time, I can't even imagine...
Well I better get back to work. Look at me, two posts within a week!
I can't wait to post the rest... hopefully in the next couple of days I will have them.
Our weekend was alot of fun. Its so much better taking the munchkin places now that she is in a better mood and not crying and fussing all of the time. Life is so much easier on all of us now that she is feeling better. We went to Amy's house on Saturday and BBQ'd with them and a few of their neighbors. Sunday we had the photo shoot, then over to my parents house to have dinner and hang out with my sisters.
Sundays are always bitter sweet. Not only does it mean back to work the next day, but Joe goes to school Mon, Tues & Wed. I will hardly see him during that time and Thursday is usually pretty exciting when we get to hang out again. I am always looking for things to do away from the house with Ayla so we don't have to sit at home alone. Tonight I think I will go visit my mom and my sister Erin and her kids.
I don't think I have mentioned yet that my youngest sister, Erin, is going through a divorce. It's been a very big, ugly, stressful mess and now her and her two kids have moved in with my parents while she finishes school. Its been really hard on them to adjust to this. My mom is now watching her kids alot while Erin works and goes to school, so both the munchkin and Amy's baby misses out on alot of grandma time. Obviously that is a small price to pay for Erin to be able to go back to school and we all know this is for the best, but sometimes I wish my mom wasn't so busy all the time taking care of them. There are alot of times I could really use her help, but she is already booked with the other kiddos. Plus I feel bad for her, as she is exhausted most of the time trying to keep up with them. But I feel especially bad for Erin having to go through all of this and move back in with our parents with her two kids. I am so glad that she is going back to school (she is getting her masters so she can become a teacher), and once she is finished she will be able to move out on her own and support her little family herself. I really admire single parents, especially those that have their kids full time, I can't even imagine...
Well I better get back to work. Look at me, two posts within a week!
Friday, March 5, 2010
My 100th Post!!
Wow... the big 100th post!! I imagine this would have happened a long time ago, but then the munchkin arrived....
I have really been neglecting my blog. Things have been going so good lately that its hard to break away and blog. But today, the hubs picked up munchkin from the sitter and took her to a friends house. This was totally unexpected, so I have nothing planned. I thought... why not post a blog!
Last Saturday, I finally packed up all of my breastmilk and shipped it off to the milk bank. It took me a while because I had to find a place that sells dry ice first, and then once I bought it, I had to ship it all the same day. I finally tracked down a pharmacy close to my house and got it all taken care. I am also feeling so much better about not breastfeeding any more. She has been thriving and feeling so much better... it's hard to not feel really good about that and that has kinda cancelled out the sadness I felt from having to stop breastfeeding.
We are pretty much settled into our new place. Everything is unpacked and put away. I am so glad that we are renting, because I am already ready to find a new place! It's also lucky we only have a 6 month lease, because I might not even make it a year. I am going to try though. I might hate moving just enough to keep me here longer. Our new place is okay, but now that munchkin is going to a new sitter in a new area, there really isn't any reason for us to have to stay this far west from everything else, like our family and friends, my job and our new sitter. We really aren't that far, but I wouldn't mind living a little closer. I also have been feeling super claustrophobic in this place. It could just be the winter too, so that might get better as spring time moves in.
The munchkin is growing like a weed! She started sitting up on her own in the last week! I still have to be close by to catch her when she falls over, but she is started to go really long stretches before she does. It's amazing the difference just a couple of months makes. She is getting really good with her hands and is really into her toys now and ofcourse she has to stick everything in her mouth. She is so happy most of the time. She seems to smile with her whole face and I am just so happy and relieved that she finally gets to experience life with out all of the accompanying pain that she had for most of her first 4 months.
Here we are enjoying one of our Wednesdays together at my mom's house. I no longer work on Wednesdays and I am really loving being able to hang out with her all day.
She gets so excited about things now. And when she does she shakes her whole face back and forth like she's saying no really fast and opens her mouth really wide. Its hilarious. She loves yelling at her toys. I wish I knew what it is that she is trying so hard to get through to them! Joe and I dance around the room and sing with her all the time. She gets so excited and starts kicking her feet really fast. Any time she starts getting crabby, if we scoop her up and start dancing around the room she instantly starts laughing and smiling and kicking her feet around. Our sitter's little boy named her Happy Feet because she is constantly kicking her feet around when she is happy and excited... which is alot.
She has been hanging out with her cousin alot. The are getting closer and closer in size. Munchkin is still so much taller though. But they are really starting to look like they are related. We always lay them together on the floor. Sometimes they kick or hit each other accidentally... but this time they seemed to finally really notice each other and they both seemed really interested! It was too cute.
Sunday we are having her 6 month photo shoot. I can't believe she is going to be six months old on the 9th! Time really is going by fast.
Joe and I, as a couple, are doing really good considering. Its so hard with him working full time and going to school 3 nights in a row. I hardly seem him at all on those days. He also spends alot of the rest of his time doing his homework along with his paperwork for his job. So I sometimes feel like a single parent... and it can be overwhelming to rarely get a break. Someday, it will all be worth it though... we just have to keep telling ourselves that. We have found a groove that seems to be working for us, so far so good.
Well the family will be home soon and I am going to try to get a few things done before they do. I will try to check back in soon and I will definitely post her new pics after we get them taken on Sunday!
I have really been neglecting my blog. Things have been going so good lately that its hard to break away and blog. But today, the hubs picked up munchkin from the sitter and took her to a friends house. This was totally unexpected, so I have nothing planned. I thought... why not post a blog!
Last Saturday, I finally packed up all of my breastmilk and shipped it off to the milk bank. It took me a while because I had to find a place that sells dry ice first, and then once I bought it, I had to ship it all the same day. I finally tracked down a pharmacy close to my house and got it all taken care. I am also feeling so much better about not breastfeeding any more. She has been thriving and feeling so much better... it's hard to not feel really good about that and that has kinda cancelled out the sadness I felt from having to stop breastfeeding.
We are pretty much settled into our new place. Everything is unpacked and put away. I am so glad that we are renting, because I am already ready to find a new place! It's also lucky we only have a 6 month lease, because I might not even make it a year. I am going to try though. I might hate moving just enough to keep me here longer. Our new place is okay, but now that munchkin is going to a new sitter in a new area, there really isn't any reason for us to have to stay this far west from everything else, like our family and friends, my job and our new sitter. We really aren't that far, but I wouldn't mind living a little closer. I also have been feeling super claustrophobic in this place. It could just be the winter too, so that might get better as spring time moves in.
The munchkin is growing like a weed! She started sitting up on her own in the last week! I still have to be close by to catch her when she falls over, but she is started to go really long stretches before she does. It's amazing the difference just a couple of months makes. She is getting really good with her hands and is really into her toys now and ofcourse she has to stick everything in her mouth. She is so happy most of the time. She seems to smile with her whole face and I am just so happy and relieved that she finally gets to experience life with out all of the accompanying pain that she had for most of her first 4 months.
Here we are enjoying one of our Wednesdays together at my mom's house. I no longer work on Wednesdays and I am really loving being able to hang out with her all day.
She gets so excited about things now. And when she does she shakes her whole face back and forth like she's saying no really fast and opens her mouth really wide. Its hilarious. She loves yelling at her toys. I wish I knew what it is that she is trying so hard to get through to them! Joe and I dance around the room and sing with her all the time. She gets so excited and starts kicking her feet really fast. Any time she starts getting crabby, if we scoop her up and start dancing around the room she instantly starts laughing and smiling and kicking her feet around. Our sitter's little boy named her Happy Feet because she is constantly kicking her feet around when she is happy and excited... which is alot.
She has been hanging out with her cousin alot. The are getting closer and closer in size. Munchkin is still so much taller though. But they are really starting to look like they are related. We always lay them together on the floor. Sometimes they kick or hit each other accidentally... but this time they seemed to finally really notice each other and they both seemed really interested! It was too cute.
Sunday we are having her 6 month photo shoot. I can't believe she is going to be six months old on the 9th! Time really is going by fast.
Joe and I, as a couple, are doing really good considering. Its so hard with him working full time and going to school 3 nights in a row. I hardly seem him at all on those days. He also spends alot of the rest of his time doing his homework along with his paperwork for his job. So I sometimes feel like a single parent... and it can be overwhelming to rarely get a break. Someday, it will all be worth it though... we just have to keep telling ourselves that. We have found a groove that seems to be working for us, so far so good.
Well the family will be home soon and I am going to try to get a few things done before they do. I will try to check back in soon and I will definitely post her new pics after we get them taken on Sunday!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
“Moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” ~ Dave Mustaine
So far so good. The munchkin still seems to be thriving since our switch to formula. She just seems so darn happy and content most of the time now. It really is amazing. Now if she would just start sleeping longer during the night... then we would have a really happy mamma too.
All of the forms have been filled out and sent off. Yesterday I had my blood drawn at the doctor's office and they mailed it off to the milk bank for me. So as long as everything checks out (and it should), then I will be shipping my milk to the bank by the end of the week or early next week. The sooner, the better. We ran out of room in the container I had for it in the deep freezer and now it is overflowing. I have bags of milk all over the place.
Weaning myself off of nursing has gone a little better then I thought. I waited till it was extremely uncomfortable and then I would pump 2 oz from each side. I went from 37 oz the first day of doing this, down to 4 oz yesterday. I only had to pump once! As of right now, I haven't pumped since 9pm yesterday and I feel totally fine. So now when it becomes very full again, I will just pump 1 oz. from each side. I don't see myself pumping anymore after the next few days. It is nice not having to pump at work anymore. I really hated pumping in the yucky bathroom.
I know I am doing what is best for the munchkin. She is happier and obviously feeling better. I know I tried my best and gave her 5 months of breastmilk, none of which was easy at any point. I know all of this, yet I am still so sad that we are no longer breastfeeding. I only have a very very small handful of friends that I can talk to that understand how I feel... I think only a mom who has breastfed can relate. To some, it seems silly to be so attached to something that was so challenging and difficult, especially with the option to switch to something that is so much easier and obviously makes her much happier. I am not sure why I am having such a hard time. Even as I type this, I can't help but tear up and feel the sadness wash over me.
As soon as I found out I was pregnant, whether or not to breastfeed was never really a question. I knew I would and I was very excited about it. It seemed so natural and beautiful to me. I knew it was what was best for her and only I, her mother, could give her that gift. I anticipated having some difficulties, but I was sure I could work through anything. I started attending La Leche League meetings early on to arm myself with a support group and resources. From the beginning, we had many difficulties, from latching issues, to nipple confusion, to an extreme oversupply. Whenever we nursed I leaked milk everywhere. I had to lay down towels all around us to try to catch it, but it finally calmed down. I could barely leave the house with her for the first 2 months because of these issues. But we worked through all of it. And as soon as things really started to feel relaxed, like we had finally figured it all out, her reflux started to show up.
Nursing (or taking a bottle) during the day was always a struggle. But at night, when things were calm and relaxed, and she was more comfortable eating, she would often nurse without any trouble at all. I will treasure those memories forever. They were such sweet moments and I can't help but feel sadness and miss them already. In those moments, I felt such a bond and connection with her. Every night, I wished more then anything that she would feel better and that we could nurse like this all the time. I would scoop her up and bring her to her glider with me. She would nestle in and lay her little hand on top of my chest. She would gently pat me with her hand and close her eyes. Sometimes she would open them up just long enough to look up and smile at me. She would let out a sigh of contentment and her whole body would be relaxed and cozy as she would curl her little body around me.
I wanted to nurse her for atleast a year. I am realizing, more then ever with the birth of a child, that things rarely go as planned. We can plan and prepare and want things, but everything is up in the air. I do not feel any guilt, as I really believe I tried as hard as I could. And I could have attempted to do more, change my diet or try other medications, but it would inevitably prolong her pain as well. Getting her feeling better and eating well as soon as possible was my top priority always.
I think that once I am done pumping completely, and my breastmilk is shipped off to the milk bank and out of the house, I can better put this behind me and move on. I feel the loss of something that I know is now gone forever. Something that was very special and very dear to me. It helps to know it will nourish another little life out there. I just feel so emotional about it all and I am ready to leave that part behind and just enjoy my baby. She has moved on and is happier then ever... I just need to join her.
All of the forms have been filled out and sent off. Yesterday I had my blood drawn at the doctor's office and they mailed it off to the milk bank for me. So as long as everything checks out (and it should), then I will be shipping my milk to the bank by the end of the week or early next week. The sooner, the better. We ran out of room in the container I had for it in the deep freezer and now it is overflowing. I have bags of milk all over the place.
Weaning myself off of nursing has gone a little better then I thought. I waited till it was extremely uncomfortable and then I would pump 2 oz from each side. I went from 37 oz the first day of doing this, down to 4 oz yesterday. I only had to pump once! As of right now, I haven't pumped since 9pm yesterday and I feel totally fine. So now when it becomes very full again, I will just pump 1 oz. from each side. I don't see myself pumping anymore after the next few days. It is nice not having to pump at work anymore. I really hated pumping in the yucky bathroom.
I know I am doing what is best for the munchkin. She is happier and obviously feeling better. I know I tried my best and gave her 5 months of breastmilk, none of which was easy at any point. I know all of this, yet I am still so sad that we are no longer breastfeeding. I only have a very very small handful of friends that I can talk to that understand how I feel... I think only a mom who has breastfed can relate. To some, it seems silly to be so attached to something that was so challenging and difficult, especially with the option to switch to something that is so much easier and obviously makes her much happier. I am not sure why I am having such a hard time. Even as I type this, I can't help but tear up and feel the sadness wash over me.
As soon as I found out I was pregnant, whether or not to breastfeed was never really a question. I knew I would and I was very excited about it. It seemed so natural and beautiful to me. I knew it was what was best for her and only I, her mother, could give her that gift. I anticipated having some difficulties, but I was sure I could work through anything. I started attending La Leche League meetings early on to arm myself with a support group and resources. From the beginning, we had many difficulties, from latching issues, to nipple confusion, to an extreme oversupply. Whenever we nursed I leaked milk everywhere. I had to lay down towels all around us to try to catch it, but it finally calmed down. I could barely leave the house with her for the first 2 months because of these issues. But we worked through all of it. And as soon as things really started to feel relaxed, like we had finally figured it all out, her reflux started to show up.
Nursing (or taking a bottle) during the day was always a struggle. But at night, when things were calm and relaxed, and she was more comfortable eating, she would often nurse without any trouble at all. I will treasure those memories forever. They were such sweet moments and I can't help but feel sadness and miss them already. In those moments, I felt such a bond and connection with her. Every night, I wished more then anything that she would feel better and that we could nurse like this all the time. I would scoop her up and bring her to her glider with me. She would nestle in and lay her little hand on top of my chest. She would gently pat me with her hand and close her eyes. Sometimes she would open them up just long enough to look up and smile at me. She would let out a sigh of contentment and her whole body would be relaxed and cozy as she would curl her little body around me.
I wanted to nurse her for atleast a year. I am realizing, more then ever with the birth of a child, that things rarely go as planned. We can plan and prepare and want things, but everything is up in the air. I do not feel any guilt, as I really believe I tried as hard as I could. And I could have attempted to do more, change my diet or try other medications, but it would inevitably prolong her pain as well. Getting her feeling better and eating well as soon as possible was my top priority always.
I think that once I am done pumping completely, and my breastmilk is shipped off to the milk bank and out of the house, I can better put this behind me and move on. I feel the loss of something that I know is now gone forever. Something that was very special and very dear to me. It helps to know it will nourish another little life out there. I just feel so emotional about it all and I am ready to leave that part behind and just enjoy my baby. She has moved on and is happier then ever... I just need to join her.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
It will not go to waste after all!
Yesterday I received a call from the milk bank in Indianapolis. I am so excited to report that I will be donating my milk to them! They are building up a stock to send to Haiti and I will be able to help feed some of the little hungry babies there. After an initial phone screening, they emailed me all the forms to fill out and mail back. I have to go to my doctor and to the munchkin's doc to have them sign off on some health papers. They are also sending me a blood kit that I have to take to my doctor to have him draw blood and send back to the milk bank. Then they will send me some UPS freezer boxes to ship the milk to them. They pay for and take care of everything. I have an appointment set up with my doctor on Monday to have them sign my papers and draw my blood. I am going by the pediatrician's office today to have them sign off on her. If all goes well, I should be sending my first batch of milk off next week! I will probably have enough more to send another batch by the time I am completely done pumping. It's going to take a while to get these puppies to stop producing milk!
I can not describe the relief I feel not having to just throw away all of my milk, and instead being able to use it towards a very good cause.
In other news... the munchkin has discovered her love for eating! I can't believe how much she loves this new formula! She is eating a 4 oz bottle almost every two hours. Every now and then she will stop at 2 oz, but she usually finishes most of the bottle every time. And she will yell for it and let me know she is hungry and as soon as I stick that bottle in her mouth, she is just as happy as can be. I guess she is making up for lost time. She is going through diapers like crazy! I have never seen her like this... it is so amazing to see her enjoying eating instead of being miserable from it.
She has also been in such a good mood. Don't get me wrong, she has still been a crabby baby here and there, but it's a different kind of crabby. It's normal baby crabby... not "I am in pain, somebody help me!".... I will take the new crabby any day. She is smiling way more, laughing and playing more and just all around being more content.
I am crossing my fingers and hoping this is what she needs and things continue to get better. I have thought things were better each time we switched to a new medicine only to find out a couple of weeks later that it wasn't. But this is the best she has ever been. And she has never eaten so much! A big appetite always seems like a really good sign to me.
I can not describe the relief I feel not having to just throw away all of my milk, and instead being able to use it towards a very good cause.
In other news... the munchkin has discovered her love for eating! I can't believe how much she loves this new formula! She is eating a 4 oz bottle almost every two hours. Every now and then she will stop at 2 oz, but she usually finishes most of the bottle every time. And she will yell for it and let me know she is hungry and as soon as I stick that bottle in her mouth, she is just as happy as can be. I guess she is making up for lost time. She is going through diapers like crazy! I have never seen her like this... it is so amazing to see her enjoying eating instead of being miserable from it.
She has also been in such a good mood. Don't get me wrong, she has still been a crabby baby here and there, but it's a different kind of crabby. It's normal baby crabby... not "I am in pain, somebody help me!".... I will take the new crabby any day. She is smiling way more, laughing and playing more and just all around being more content.
I am crossing my fingers and hoping this is what she needs and things continue to get better. I have thought things were better each time we switched to a new medicine only to find out a couple of weeks later that it wasn't. But this is the best she has ever been. And she has never eaten so much! A big appetite always seems like a really good sign to me.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Donating Breast Milk
The idea of wasting all of my breastmilk has been weighing on me very heavily. I have been looking into donating my milk to a milk bank. With the crisis in Haiti, they are asking for donations for the little babies there. I found this online today:
URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant
Association/United States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for human milk donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and premature infants in the United States.
This week the first shipment of human milk from mothers in the United States will be shipped to the U.S. Navy Ship *Comfort* stationed outside Haiti. *Comfort* is currently set up with a neonatal intensive care unit and medical personnel to provide urgent care to victims of the earthquake. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment and supplies to the *Comfort.* Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist, is on board the *Comfort* to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need.
HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to requests to provide
milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who have recently delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent need exists
for additional donations.
At the current time, the infrastructure to deliver human milk on land to Haiti infants has not yet been established. As soon as that infrastructure is in place, additional donations will be provided to older infants.
Mothers who are willing to donate human milk should contact their regional Mothers* Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of regional milk banks is available at the HMBANA website at www.hmbana.org.
Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations will be used for both Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies to continue to serve sick and premature infants in the U.S. Donor milk provides unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial donations are also strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit organization, to continue serving infants in need.
UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and medical professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be used for infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due to its disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend on water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to
provide support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue breastfeeding, and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding.
For more information, contact HMBANA at 408-998-4550 or www.hmbana.org. Additional information can be provided from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132 (www.usbreastfeeding.org), ILCA/USLCA at 1-800-452-2478 (www.ilca.org or
www.uslca.org), or La Leche League at 847-519-7730 (www.llli.org).
This morning I sent an email to the closest milk bank I could find to my home.
I have recently found out that I will no longer be able to breastfeed my baby. She has extremely bad acid reflux and possibly some other issues and we have had to put her on special formula to help her. She is almost 5 mos old and I have been having a difficult time giving up breastfeeding. I am still pumping to slowly stop my breasts from producing milk, as I have always had an oversupply and discontinuing to breastfeed is probably going to be a long process for me. While nursing her however, I have been able to freeze and store over 400oz of breastmilk. It could be alot more, but it is atleast that much. I have about 100 bags saved that range from 4 - 8 oz each (most of them are around 4). I am a very healthy, nonsmoking, 30 year old woman. I have had a couple of glasses of wine since my baby was born, but other then that I haven't consumed any alcohol, and as far as any drugs or medication, I have taken a tylenol hear and there for a headache. We bought a deep freezer just so that we could more safely store the milk for a longer period of time. Most of the bags are all within a month old, the oldest being under two months. I researched and followed all proper guidelines for safely storing them. The idea of throwing away all my breastmilk is heartwrenching to me, with all of the hungry babies out there, and most recently all of the little babies in Haiti.
After researching online, it seems that your bank is the closest location to my home in Missouri. I live about 45 minutes west of St. Louis. I was wondering if there was anything I could do as far as donating my milk. My sister and brother in law will be traveling to Indianapolis in the beginning of March and have offered to bring it to your bank if you would take it. Please let me know.
My friend Toni has offered to take a road trip with me to Indianapolis where the bank is located. Most likely it will require me to take the milk myself as they will probably want to do blood tests to make sure that I am clean and healthy. The idea of being able to share my milk with a baby in need, makes me feel so much better then just wasting it all.
URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant
Association/United States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for human milk donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and premature infants in the United States.
This week the first shipment of human milk from mothers in the United States will be shipped to the U.S. Navy Ship *Comfort* stationed outside Haiti. *Comfort* is currently set up with a neonatal intensive care unit and medical personnel to provide urgent care to victims of the earthquake. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment and supplies to the *Comfort.* Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist, is on board the *Comfort* to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need.
HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to requests to provide
milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who have recently delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent need exists
for additional donations.
At the current time, the infrastructure to deliver human milk on land to Haiti infants has not yet been established. As soon as that infrastructure is in place, additional donations will be provided to older infants.
Mothers who are willing to donate human milk should contact their regional Mothers* Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of regional milk banks is available at the HMBANA website at www.hmbana.org.
Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations will be used for both Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies to continue to serve sick and premature infants in the U.S. Donor milk provides unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial donations are also strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit organization, to continue serving infants in need.
UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and medical professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be used for infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due to its disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend on water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to
provide support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue breastfeeding, and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding.
For more information, contact HMBANA at 408-998-4550 or www.hmbana.org. Additional information can be provided from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132 (www.usbreastfeeding.org), ILCA/USLCA at 1-800-452-2478 (www.ilca.org or
www.uslca.org), or La Leche League at 847-519-7730 (www.llli.org).
This morning I sent an email to the closest milk bank I could find to my home.
I have recently found out that I will no longer be able to breastfeed my baby. She has extremely bad acid reflux and possibly some other issues and we have had to put her on special formula to help her. She is almost 5 mos old and I have been having a difficult time giving up breastfeeding. I am still pumping to slowly stop my breasts from producing milk, as I have always had an oversupply and discontinuing to breastfeed is probably going to be a long process for me. While nursing her however, I have been able to freeze and store over 400oz of breastmilk. It could be alot more, but it is atleast that much. I have about 100 bags saved that range from 4 - 8 oz each (most of them are around 4). I am a very healthy, nonsmoking, 30 year old woman. I have had a couple of glasses of wine since my baby was born, but other then that I haven't consumed any alcohol, and as far as any drugs or medication, I have taken a tylenol hear and there for a headache. We bought a deep freezer just so that we could more safely store the milk for a longer period of time. Most of the bags are all within a month old, the oldest being under two months. I researched and followed all proper guidelines for safely storing them. The idea of throwing away all my breastmilk is heartwrenching to me, with all of the hungry babies out there, and most recently all of the little babies in Haiti.
After researching online, it seems that your bank is the closest location to my home in Missouri. I live about 45 minutes west of St. Louis. I was wondering if there was anything I could do as far as donating my milk. My sister and brother in law will be traveling to Indianapolis in the beginning of March and have offered to bring it to your bank if you would take it. Please let me know.
My friend Toni has offered to take a road trip with me to Indianapolis where the bank is located. Most likely it will require me to take the milk myself as they will probably want to do blood tests to make sure that I am clean and healthy. The idea of being able to share my milk with a baby in need, makes me feel so much better then just wasting it all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)